Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Memorial
November 13th
[In the diocese of the United States]

(1850-1917) Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Lombardy, Italy, one of thirteen children. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. At the petition of Pope Leo XIII, she came to the United States in 1889 to work among Italian immigrants. St. Frances Cabrini was the first American citizen to be canonized. She is also the Patroness of Immigrants.

Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
God our Father,
who called Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini from Italy
to serve the immigrants of America,
by her example,
teach us to have concern for the stranger,
the sick, and all those in need,
and by her prayers help us to see Christ
in all the men and women we meet.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

Readings are selected from the Common of Virgins.

Information: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Feast Day:	November 13
Born:	July 15, 1850, Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy
Died:	December 22, 1917, Chicago
Canonized:	July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII
Major Shrine:	Chapel of Mother Cabrini High School, New York City
Patron of:	immigrants, hospital administrators

A Missionary for our Time: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Virgin, Foundress
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini-Virgin, Foundress 1850-1917
Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Feast Day: November 13
Born: 1850 :: Died: 1917

Frances was born at Lombardy in Italy. She was one of thirteen children and was raised on a farm. As a child, she dreamed about being a missionary to China. She sailed paper boats down a stream to play her "pretend game."

The paper boats were ships taking missionaries to China. And she began giving up candy because in China, she probably wouldn't be able to have any.

But when she grew up, Frances was not accepted into the two convents that she asked to join. Her health was not too good, so she taught at girl's school for six years.

Then a priest asked her to help out in a small home for orphans. Things were very hard for Frances because of the lady who ran the house. Yet Frances stuck to the work, and some other generous women joined her. Together they took vows.

At last the bishop told Frances to begin her own congregation of missionary nuns, which Frances did without hesitation. This congregation is called the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

Soon it began to grow, first in Italy and then in many other countries. Frances, whom everyone called Mother Cabrini, had always had her heart set on going to China. But it seemed that God wanted her to come to America.

When Pope Leo XIII told her, "Go west, not east," the matter was settled. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini sailed for the United States and became an American citizen. She helped large numbers of Italian immigrants and was like their real mother and friend.

Mother Cabrini and her sisters found things very difficult in the beginning. The archbishop of New York even suggested that they go back to Italy. But Mother Cabrini answered, "Your excellency, the pope sent me here and here I must stay."

The archbishop admired her pioneer spirit, and so she and her sisters were allowed to begin their great work for God. Schools, hospitals, and homes for children were opened up in different states.

As the years passed, Mother Cabrini made many trips to spread her congregation and its works. She founded 67 institutions, and there were always difficulties, but she put all her trust in the Sacred Heart. "It is he who is doing everything, not us," she would say.

Mother Cabrini died in Chicago on December 23, 1917.

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)	Latin: Vulgata Clementina
	Luke 17
7.	But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat:	τις δε εξ υμων δουλον εχων αροτριωντα η ποιμαινοντα ος εισελθοντι εκ του αγρου ερει ευθεως παρελθων αναπεσε	Quis autem vestrum habens servum arantem aut pascentem, qui regresso de agro dicat illi : Statim transi, recumbe :
8.	And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?	αλλ ουχι ερει αυτω ετοιμασον τι δειπνησω και περιζωσαμενος διακονει μοι εως φαγω και πιω και μετα ταυτα φαγεσαι και πιεσαι συ	et non dicat ei : Para quod cœnem, et præcinge te, et ministra mihi donec manducem, et bibam, et post hæc tu manducabis, et bibes ?
9.	Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him?	μη χαριν εχει τω δουλω εκεινω οτι εποιησεν τα διαταχθεντα ου δοκω	Numquid gratiam habet servo illi, quia fecit quæ ei imperaverat ?
10.	I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.	ουτως και υμεις οταν ποιησητε παντα τα διαταχθεντα υμιν λεγετε οτι δουλοι αχρειοι εσμεν οτι ο οφειλομεν ποιησαι πεποιηκαμεν	non puto. Sic et vos cum feceritis omnia quæ præcepta sunt vobis, dicite : Servi inutiles sumus : quod debuimus facere, fecimus.

7. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8. And will not rather say to him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird yourself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward you shall eat and drink?
9. Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10. So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

THEOPHYL. Because faith makes its possessor a keeper of God's commandments, and adorns him with wonderful works; it would seem from thence that a man might thereby fall into the sin of pride. Our Lord therefore forewarned His Apostles by a fit example, not to boast themselves in their virtues, saying, But which of you having a servant plowing, &c.

AUG. Or else; To the many who understand not this faith in the truth already present, our Lord might seem not to have answered the petitions of His disciples. And there appears a difficulty in the connection here, unless we suppose He meant the change from faith to faith, from that faith, namely, by which we serve God, to that whereby we enjoy Him. For then will our faith be increased when we first believe the word preached, next the reality present. But that joyful contemplation possesses perfect peace, which is given to us in the everlasting kingdom of God. And that perfect peace is the reward of those righteous labors, which are performed in the administration of the Church. Be then the servant in the field ploughing, or feeding, that is, in this life either following his worldly business, or serving foolish men, as it were cattle, he must after his labors return home, that is, be united to the Church.

BEDE; Or the servant departs from the field when giving up for a time his work of preaching, the teacher retires into his own conscience, pondering his own words or deeds within himself. To whom our Lord does not at once say, Go from this mortal life, and sit down to meat, that is, refresh yourself in the everlasting resting-place of a blessed life.

AMBROSE; For we know that no one sits down before he has first passed over. Moses indeed also passed over, that he might see a great sight. Since then you not only say to your servant, Sit down to meat, but require from him another service, so in this life the Lord does not put up with the performance of one work and labor, because as long as we live we ought always to work. Therefore it follows, And will not rather say, Make ready wherewith I may sup.

BEDE; He bids make ready wherewith he may sup, that is, after the labors of public discourse, He bids him humble himself in self-examination. With such a supper our Lord desires to be fed. But to gird one's self is to collect the mind which has been enfolded in the base coil of fluctuating thoughts, whereby its steps in the cause of good works are wont to be entangled. For he who girds up his garments does so, that in walking he may not be tripped up. But to minister to God, is to acknowledge that we have no strength without the help of His grace.

AUG. While His servants also are ministering, that is, preaching the Gospel, our Lord is eating and drinking the faith and confession of the Gentiles. It follows, And afterward you shall eat and drink. As if He says, After that I have been delighted with the work of your preaching, and refreshed myself with the choice food of your compunction, then at length shall you go, and feast yourself everlastingly with the eternal banquet of wisdom.

CYRIL; Our Lord teaches us that it is no more than the just and proper right of a master to require, as their bounder duty, subjection from servants, adding, Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. Here then is the disease of pride cut away. Why boast you yourself? Do you know that if you pay not your debt, danger is at hand, but if you pay, you do nothing thank-worthy? As St. Paul says, For though I preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, yea woe is to me if I preach not the Gospel.

Observe then that they who have rule among us, do not thank their subjects, when they perform their appointed service, but by kindness gaining the affections of their people, breed in them a greater eagerness to serve them. So likewise God requires from us that we should wait upon Him as His servants, but because He is merciful, and of great goodness, He promises reward to them that work, and the greatness of His loving-kindness far exceeds the labors of His servants.

AMBROSE; Boast not yourself then that you have been a good servant. You have done what you ought to have done. The sun obeys, the moon submits herself, the angels are subject; let us not then seek praise from ourselves. Therefore He adds in conclusion, So likewise you, when you have done all good things, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which it was our duty to do.

BEDE; Servants, I say, because bought with a price; unprofitable, for the Lord needs not our good things, or because the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. Herein then is the perfect faith of men, when having done all things which were commanded them, they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect.

Catena Aurea Luke 17

Christ the Angel of the Great Council

No attribution, Greek

Catholic

Almanac:

Tuesday, November 13
Liturgical Color: White
Today the Church honors St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was the foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, arriving in the United States in 1889, to work with immigrants.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: November 13, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: God our Father, who called Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini from Italy to serve the immigrants of America, by her example, teach us to have concern for the stranger, the sick, and all those in need, and by her prayers help us to see Christ in all the men and women we meet. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Ordinary Time: November 13th

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin (USA)

Old Calendar: St. Didacus, confessor; St. Stanislaus Kostka (Hist)

Today the dioceses in the United States celebrate the memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin, born in Lombardy, Italy, one of thirteen children. She came to America as a missionary, founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. She is the first American citizen to be canonized. December 22 is her feast day in the Extraordinary Rite.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Didacus, a humble Franciscan laybrother and the recipient of exceptional graces. He received such light from God that he spoke of heavenly things in a manner almost divine; certain miracles, but especially his obedience, charity and fervor of his prayer, caused him to be considered a saint wherever he went. He was born in Andalusia, was sent as a missionary to the Canary Isles, spent some time in Rome and returned to die in Spain.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
This saint, the first United States citizen to be canonized, was born in Italy of parents who were farmers. She was the thirteenth child, born when her mother was fifty-two years old. The missionary spirit was awakened in her as a little girl when her father read stories of the missions to his children. She received a good education, and at eighteen was awarded the normal school certificate.

For a while she helped the pastor teach catechism and visited the sick and the poor. She also taught school in a nearby town, and for six years supervised an orphanage assisted by a group of young women. The bishop of Lodi heard of this group and asked Frances to establish a missionary institute to work in his diocese. Frances did so, calling the community the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. An academy for girls was opened and new houses quickly sprang up.

One day Bishop Scalabrini, founder of the Missionaries of Emigration, described to Mother Cabrini the wretched economical and spiritual conditions of the many Italian immigrants in the United States, and she was deeply moved. An audience with Pope Leo XIII changed her plans to go to the missions of the East. "Not to the East, but to the West," the Pope said to her. "Go to the United States." Mother Cabrini no longer hesitated. She landed in New York in 1889, established an orphanage, and then set out on a lifework that comprised the alleviation of every human need. For the children she erected schools, kindergartens, clinics, orphanages, and foundling homes, and numbers of hospitals for the needy sick. At her death over five thousand children were receiving care in her charitable institutions, and at the same time her community had grown to five hundred members in seventy houses in North and South America, France, Spain, and England.

The saint, frail and diminutive of stature, showed such energy and enterprise that everyone marveled. She crossed the Atlantic twenty-five times to visit the various houses and institutions. In 1909 she adopted the United States as her country and became a citizen. After thirty-seven years of unflagging labor and heroic charity she died alone in a chair in Columbus Hospital at Chicago, Illinois, while making dolls for orphans in preparation for a Christmas party. Cardinal Mundelein of Chicago officiated at her funeral and in 1938 also presided at her beatification by Pius XI. She was canonized by Pius XII in 1946. She lies buried under the altar of the chapel of Mother Cabrini High School in New York City. — A Saint A Day, Berchmans Bittle, O.F.M.Cap.

Patron: hospital administrators; immigrants; orphans.

Symbols: ship; heart; book.

Things to Do:

If you live in or pass through Colorado, visit the western Mother Cabrini Shrine.
Read more about St. Francis Cabrini.
Prepare an Italian dinner in honor of St. Francis Cabrini. For dessert make a ship cake (symbolizing her missionary work), a heart cake (she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart) or a Book Cake (symbolizing her founding a religious order).
Say the Little Rosary of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini.
Read the Encyclical, On Consecrated Virginity, by Pius XII and if you are single consider the possibility of a vocation to this life.
Read the Pope Benedict XVI's Address for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2007.
If you know someone who has immigrated to this country, try to help them feel welcome, perhaps by inviting them over for the Italian dinner.

St. Didacus
Didacus (or Diego, Jacob) was born in the town of San Nicolas, Andalusia. From early youth he showed a love for solitude. At Arrizafa, near Cordova, he became a Franciscan brother and was outstanding in humility and obedience. He had little formal education, yet through divine enlightenment in no way lacked wisdom. As a missionary he visited the Canary Islands and was appointed first superior of the new foundation there. In 1450 Pope Nicholas V confided to his care the sick in the celebrated convent of Ara Caeli. With his tongue he often cleansed the wounds of the sick. He miraculously healed many with oil from the lamp which burned before a picture of the Blessed Virgin or with the sign of the Cross.

During a stay at the friary at Alcala in 1463, Didacus felt the approach of his last hour. Wrapped in discarded rags, with eyes fixed immovably upon a crucifix, he died while fervently praying the words of the hymn Dulce lignum, dulces clavos, O sweet wood, O sweet nails that held so sweet a burden! For a long time his body remained incorrupt. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Patron: diocese of San Diego, California; Franciscan laity; Franciscan lay brothers.

Symbols: Bread and roses in a tunic; cross held by an angel.

Things to Do: Meditate on the fact that in order to walk the Christian path you must always be counter-cultural, for the world follows the broad, level and easy roads, and resolve to bear patiently the next time someone misunderstands you or even ridicules you because you do not conform to this world (pray for that person); Pray for the virtue of humility which we must have if we are to reach our "enemies".

St. Stanislaus Kostka
The son of a Polish senator, St. Stanislaus was first privately educated at the family castle. He later attended the Jesuit college in Vienna, where he set a holy example for all. While at the college, Stanislaus suffered from a serious illness. St. Barbara and two angels appeared to him and he seemed to be given Holy Communion in the vision (either by St. Barbara or by the angels). Also, Our Lady visited him and told him that he would recover and become a Jesuit. The Jesuit provincial in Vienna was too afraid of making Stanislaus's father angry to admit Stanislaus to the Order, so the saint walked to Augsburg and then Dillingen, a total of 350 miles, and there appealed to St. Peter Canisius, the Jesuit provincial of Upper Germany. St. Peter Canisius took him in, and after three weeks, sent Stanislaus to Rome to see St. Francis Borgia, who was general of the Jesuits. In Rome, Stanislaus became a Jesuit at the age of 17, much to the dissatisfaction of his father. His devotion to the Eucharist was apparent to all, since he went into ecstasy after receiving Communion. St. Stanislaus became ill again and died only nine months into his novitiate.

Patron: Poland; young students.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Luke 17:7-10

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

“We are unprofitable servants.” (Luke 17:10)

At first glance, Jesus’ words to his disciples may seem harsh. Essentially, he told them that it was not enough for them to just do what he commanded. Was he expecting them to slave even harder? Was he telling them that if they did more, they would be truly “profitable” servants who merited his pleasure? Not at all. We don’t earn God’s love anyway. It’s a gift he gives to us—one and all, profitable and unprofitable!

Jesus’ parable shines a light on the kind of discipleship that he is calling us to, not the amount of work he’s looking for. We can respond to him like slaves, or we can be his friends. And if we have any question about which is the best approach, Scripture gives us a clear answer: at the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he called them friends, not slaves (John 15:15).

It is very possible for us to work for God and yet never really know him. With a little determination, we could undertake all sorts of projects for our parish or for the poor, either out of a sense of duty or out of a desire to ensure our place in heaven. But this isn’t what Jesus is looking for. He wants to have a relationship of love with us, not one of fear or obligation. If we think like duty-bound slaves, we are missing the entire reason why God created us in the first place: to be in union with him in love.

Of course, there are things we must do as his disciples. There are commands that we must obey and guidelines that we must follow. But undergirding all of these must be the things we do simply because we love Jesus—things like turning our hearts to him every day and sharing his love with everyone around us, especially his little ones.

So how can you become a profitable servant of the Lord today? Maybe a good way to start is by asking the Spirit to fill your heart with God’s love. Let that love awaken a deeper love for him in you—a love and a deeper desire to serve him.

“Jesus, thank you for giving me a share in your life. Now I freely give my life back to you.”

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29

Regnum Christi

The “Right” of Gratitude

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Father Edward Hopkins, LC

Luke 17:7-10

Jesus said to the apostles: "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ´Come here at once and take your place at the table´? Would you not rather say to him, ´Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink´? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ´We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!´"

Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe in you, my Lord and my Creator! You have given me everything, and you owe me nothing. You have forgiven me everything when I owed you more than I could ever pay. I trust in your forgiveness and love, Lord.

Petition: Jesus, help me to be grateful to you.

1. Proud Attitudes: How often are we offended by how others treat us, by a lack of gratitude, respect or appreciation? However justified the reactions of our sensitivity, what lies at the root of our complaints is pride. Looking out from my own broken creaturely condition, I can’t help but see myself for more than I am and expect more respect from everyone – including God. Yet, before God I am but a poor, tiny and dependent creature. From him I receive all that I am and need. How can I demand anything from him? Even worse, how can I complain when I recognize that I am an ungrateful sinner who has denied the rights and love of my Creator?

2. The Fundamental Relationship: Our culture has become one of “entitlement.” We view ourselves as having rights – “just” expectations –, and we expect that much is owed to us. Thus we see children demanding what they want, spouses expecting their preferences to be respected, and the belief that government must provide us with everything. God gets thrown into the fray as well, so that he, too, must deliver according to our attitude of spoiled children. What we forget is that we have received everything from God and we owe him everything. Jesus’ image of the slave and master is not just a metaphor. Although his free and generous gift of redemption raises us up to the level of children and friends, he owes us nothing. Our fundamental relationship with God must be that of a grateful creature with a loving creator. We must start there.

3. Humble Attitudes: Far from asking us to act as “worthless slaves,” Jesus wants to free us from the pride that enslaves. The virtues of service, gratitude, honor and obedience may not be popular today, but they forever reflect the heart of a child of God. Jesus embraced all these virtues and the attitudes of humility that they require. My first duty in life is to serve and obey God. My duty of gratitude can never be exhausted, for he gives me so many gifts – life, faith, family, etc. –, and he leads me to a love that is self-giving rather than demanding my rights before God and others.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to embrace my condition as creature with humble simplicity. Open my mind and heart to the many endless expressions of your generous love. Teach me a gratitude that thinks more of you than of me.

Resolution: I will pray for the grace to show gratitude to God in my daily activities, striving to make these acts of gratitude occur.

Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for November 13, 2012:

Sex Secret, #1: “They don’t do it every day (whew!)”.(Lisa Lombardi). Not that frequent sex is bad, but measuring oneself against a Hollywood norm puts undo pressure on love. Find the rhythm that works for both of you. Meet in the middle.

Pleasing Christ as Our Lord and Master

by Food For Thought on November 13, 2012 ·

Reading 1 Ti 2:1-8, 11-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18 And 23, 27 And 29

Gospel Lk 17:7-10

So often when tragedy befalls us or life becomes difficult we cry out in protest “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?” as if God owes us something. This attitude betrays a certain self-centeredness and self-righteousness. We become the center of the universe. We fail to realize that we are nothing, that we deserve nothing. We have not asked seriously the question, “Where do I come from?” It is out of God’s infinite love that we exist. He created us and keeps us
in existence. Everything we are and everything we have is a gift from God. God does not owe us anything; rather we owe God everything. We are only servants. If God blesses us, it is out of his generosity, not because of a duty.

The fulfillment of a servant is to serve his master, to realize his master’s wishes. A good master is not indifferent to his servant or negligent in expressing his desires for the servant. He is genuinely interested in helping the servant fulfill his purpose by giving him a task to do. If we are God’s servants, surely there is something that God is asking of us. Like a good servant we must be attentive to God’s every desire and quickly respond. We cannot be a bad
servant who is sluggish and slow, hesitating at the Master’s command. Worse still we cannot be indignant, rejecting God’s command, presuming to deserve some favor or recompense. It is good to ask ourselves from time to time, “What is it that God is asking from me?”

We should be able to finish our life saying, “I am an unprofitable servant; I have done only what I was obliged to do.” It would be a pity to have to say at the end of our lives, “I have done less than I was obliged to do.” Yet that many times is the reality of our lives. We end up doing less then what we are obliged to do, never mind being a generous person and giving God more than the minimum he is asking from us. Would that we realize that our true happiness and true fulfillment lies in doing God’s will and that our doing less is only a source of misery for our lives.

I am sure that we are aware how many times we have rebelled against God. So often we think of ourselves as deserving happiness, or good fortune, or an easy life. Let us pray for the grace to recognize our nothingness. Let us try to appreciate the many blessings God has given us as generous manifestations of his love, and not as something that we deserve or have a right to. Let us be humble servants ready to act at God’s slightest command. Let us also accept all the misfortunes and difficulties that come our way with the humility of a servant who is not owed anything.

Archdiocese of Washington

On Serenity and Severity in Church Discipline

November 12, 2012 |

Msgr. Charles Pope

The readings for today’s daily Mass (Monday Nov 12) largely deal with Church order and discipline. Paul in his letter to Titus tells him:

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you (Titus 1:5).

He adds that among other things, the men he picks be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. Later in the letter we learned that people Crete tended to be unruly people and that there were many things that had been left undone and needed to be accomplished. (Titus 1:12).

If we look at the Church down through the Centuries, we will find what may be we described as a human condition. There are good and wonderful aspects of Church life, and there are things that are painful and difficult. The Church also goes through periods which are better, relatively speaking. There have been times of grave difficulties disorder, as well as periods of relative order and tranquility. But to be clear, there is never been an ideal or perfect time.

Last week we pondered on the blog that, in the 16th Century St. Charles Borromeo had a huge mess on his hands. Twelve million had just left the Church in the Lutheran revolt, and more were to follow. Clergy were poorly trained and disorderly, and the faithful were poorly catechized. It took decades to perform to restore reasonable order.

Our own times, show forth both light and darkness. In some areas the Church is growing, even flourishing. In other areas there is great decline and the culture is in great disrepair.

Jesus takes up the theme of sin in the Church in today’s Gospel. He says,

Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him (Lk 17:1-4).

But despite saying this, the Lord counsels great mercy among the members of the Church:

and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him. (Luke 17:5)

Thus, while speaking of the need to discipline the sinner, he also speaks to the need to forgive seven times a day, a Jewish way of speaking that does not mean literally seven, but an abundance of forgiveness.

If the “woe” to those who cause scandal and the counsel to be merciful and forgiving seem in some tension, they are. Putting it another way, the Lord is saying to us, as for those scandalize others or fall into repeated sin, they are going to have to answer to me one day. But as for you, pray and work for their conversion, show mercy where possible, and leave many things up the God.

The fact is, we are not going to resolve every problem in the Church or in our families. And were we to try, we might create twice his many more problems. Scandals and problems are inevitable. We should work to resolve them, and, as the Lord says, correct the sinner. But we should do it in a way in which we do not surrender our serenity or our love.

To be sure, there are texts in the Scripture that speak to us of disciplining in ways that bring an end to mercy and execute firm judgment, texts that speaks even in certain situations, excommunicating a troublesome brother. Jesus counsels of Matthew’s Gospel:

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt 18:15-17)

In other words there maybe times when someone needs to be considered excommunicated. Paul says something similar 1 Corinthians 5 admonishes them to expel an incestuous brother in hopes that he may come to his senses to be restored to communion.

So there are times for strong discipline. But there are other times with the Lord counsels caution when it comes to severe discipline. Today’s gospel is one example. Another example of the Gospel of the wheat and the tares. The message seems similar to the gospel from today’s mass though it goes even further since there is not even evidence of theoretical repentance on the part of the sinner:

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Matt 13:24-30)

In other words, there is going to be a day of judgment, but not now. Repeated sinners, and those who cause difficulty in church life and mislead others are going to have to answer to the Lord. But some of that has to wait for the Day of Judgment.

Exactly when to use tough measures, or when to delay, and show mercy, is not always easy to know. These are matters for prudential judgment. Some of the scenarios above presume theoretical repentance. (I say theoretical since repeated sinners may often indicate regret or have “reasons” for their behavior, but not really have true repentance at any any authentic or meaningful level). And these sorts of judgements don’t simply engage bishops, but also pastors at the parish level, and parents and siblings at the level of the domestic Church.

At any rate, in today’s readings both Paul and Jesus seem to have the longer picture in mind. They seem to counsel an approach more akin to chipping away at the problem, through instructing and admonishing, teaching and putting things in place rather than to round up every erring brother and throw them into the ocean. Perhaps too, it is good to remember that in asking for all the scoundrels, the rascals to be rounded up and thrown out of the Church, we ourselves might not fair too well, for most of us are not unambiguously saintly. We too might just get taken out with the trash.

This does not remove the need for the more strenuous measures that both Jesus and Paul counsel elsewhere, it simply balances them and shows, that in Church life, prudential judgments about such things are necessary.

Serenity – God himself leaves many things unresolved in both the Church and the created order. There is a kind of serenity in recognizing this, and taking it to heart. While we may wish for, and strive for the perfect family, the perfect Church, There is serenity in remembering that some things are going to have to be left to God.

And God often waits, for: The patience of our Lord is directed to our salvation. Yes, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:15,9)

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, November 13, 2012 >>

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14
View Readings

Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29

Luke 17:7-10

COUNTING SHEEP

"No opponent will be able to find anything bad to say about us, and hostility will yield to shame." —Titus 2:8

Two-thirds of the Catholic people living in the boundaries of the typical parish in the U.S.A. don't regularly go to Mass on Sunday. Most of those who do go on Sundays don't go on other days. Many people who even go to church regularly don't know many fellow parishioners. They often are alone in enduring such tragedies as divorce, family breakdown, serious sickness, addictions, or bereavement. Our people desperately need pastoring. This doesn't mean the priest tries to become the Messiah, but that:

the older men take the lead (Ti 2:2),
older women minister to the young women (Ti 2:3-4),
we focus on strengthening marriages and families (see Ti 2:4),
the pastor challenges the young men to purity and holds them accountable (see Ti 2:6),
the teaching of the parish has "the integrity of serious, sound words to which no one can take exception" (Ti 2:8),
we emphasize that "the grace of God has appeared, offering salvation to all" (Ti 2:11), and
we train our parishioners "to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age as we await our blessed hope" (Ti 2:12-13).

If you love Jesus, do your part in caring for His sheep (Jn 21:16). "God's flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd's care" (1 Pt 5:2). "When the chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory" (1 Pt 5:4).

Prayer: Father, may my heart be moved with pity for the sheep without a shepherd who lie prostrate from exhaustion (Mt 9:36).

Promise: "It was He Who sacrificed Himself for us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness and to cleanse for Himself a people of His own, eager to do what is right." —Ti 2:14

Praise: Heroic trust in God was Mother Cabrini's charism. She was a missionary to the poor, the orphans, and the sick.

November 13, 2012

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Reading 1 Ti 2:1-8, 11-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

Gospel Lk 17:7-10

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Daily Readings for: November 13, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

LIBRARY

Ordinary Time: November 13th

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin (USA)

Meditation: Luke 17:7-10

Pleasing Christ as Our Lord and Master

One Bread, One Body

COUNTING SHEEP

November 13, 2012

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Reading 1 Ti 2:1-8, 11-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

Gospel Lk 17:7-10

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Daily Readings for: November 13, 2012(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

LIBRARY

Ordinary Time: November 13th

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin (USA)

Meditation: Luke 17:7-10

Pleasing Christ as Our Lord and Master

One Bread, One Body

COUNTING SHEEP

Daily Readings for: November 13, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)